Call for UK Sport to avoid a two-tier funding approach

The sports without funding for Tokyo 2020 have called on the government to heed the mood of the country and avoid a two-tier approach to elite sport.

With less than half of the Olympic and Paralympic sports set to receive public money for their Tokyo preparations, 11 governing bodies have teamed up to demand an immediate review of funding agency UK Sport’s strategy.

The call comes at a pivotal moment for UK Sport as new chair Dame Katherine Grainger starts work next week after months of bad headlines for British elite sport involving bullying, discrimination and poor leadership.

Badminton's governing body is among the 11 demanding an 'urgent review' of how public money is allocated (Simon Cooper/PA)

But while all parties appear united on the need to address those issues, there are alarming signs of a rift over funding, with some talking about ‘haves and have nots’ and a betrayal of the Olympic and Paralympic ideals.

Dame Katherine Grainger: “I really feel for the sports and athletes who have not been funded for the Tokyo cycle"

Under the banner of “every sport matters”, the 11 sports have called for an end to UK Sport’s “no compromise” model of only backing likely medal-winners and asked for a basic level of support so every sport has a chance of competing.

Grainger has said she is sympathetic to their cause and believes a review of UK Sport’s strategy is needed, but not until after Tokyo 2020 and the current funding commitments.

Speaking to reporters in London, GB Wheelchair Rugby chief executive David Pond said: “It’s all very well saying we need a review but we need a review now. I think the public would be behind that as well.

“I don’t buy this argument that the public only want medals. They have a broader view. They don’t want a ‘them and us’ situation. Look at what is happening elsewhere in this country. Culturally, people don’t want that. And they pay for this programme: it’s money from the lottery and tax.”

Pond said 2020 will be too late for his athletes, who are currently competing at the European Championships.

UK Sport’s decision to cut his funding last December has left him with two paid members of staff and he does not think the team will be able to take up the place they have earned at next year’s world championships in Australia.

“I’m meeting all my athletes on Monday to crudely means-test them,” said Pond.

“I need to see who I can help so they can keep playing rugby. For at least six of them, I know their only income will be disability benefit. So our system will almost certainly fold.”

GB Badminton are staggered by UK Sport's confirmation to reject the funding appeal. We will now take some time to consider our next steps.

Badminton England boss Adrian Christy told a similar story about the cost of losing UK Sport backing - a decision which came as a shock after badminton met its medal target in Rio, a result they have since backed up on the world stage.

Having spoken to Grainger on the phone on Wednesday, Christy said they are hoping to meet soon for a full discussion of the unfunded sports’ plan and he is also meeting sports minister Tracey Crouch next week.

“We want (Grainger) to open her mind, eyes and ears, to see and hear what is happening around the system and take this as a matter of priority. Systems will break.

“I’ve made 33 redundancies in total, we’ve gone from 24 athletes to 12, five coaches to three and no sports science – we’re buying that in piecemeal.